I was interested to receive an
e-mail message from from Dugald Ross who wrote:

Where was the Pump?

"I'm intrigued by the photo of an old green petrol pump near
Loch Alsh as there is an identical one in the Staffin Museum.

I
rescued it from a dump in Uig, Skye, about 15 years ago.

Would you have more precise details of the location of the
pump?"

Dugald Ross: December 16, 2006

Comment

I replied to
Dugald:

Near Eilean Donan Castle

"I think the photograph had been
taken on one of the minor roads near Eilean Donan Castle.
The castle is on the main road leading to Kyle of Lochalsh and
Skye.

However, when I returned to the area,
about five years ago, and tried to find the location, I was
not able to find it."

Perhaps somebody else will remember having seen this pump
beside the road, and will tell me where they saw it.
If you recognise it, can you please
e-mail me? Thank you. - Peter Stubbs: December 16, 2006

Answer

Dugald Ross e-mailed me again on 17 November, telling me that
he actually runs the museum at Staffin, where the pump is on
display, two miles away from his home on the Isle of Skye.

Dugald wrote:

Ardelve

"Unfortunately, the hose and
other parts are missing from my pump, hence my interest
in locating the one you photographed.

Having had a closer look at
your photo, I can see Eilean Donan Castle in the
background so it appears as if the locality is Ardelve.

It's very unlikely that the
pump is still around as these early ones are very
collectable.

They were made in Springfield
USA in the 1920s. Being constructed mainly of cast
iron, they were almost indestructible".

I note that the top globe is
missing but these have also become very sought after."